Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Job summary

Are you an experienced Speech and Language Therapist looking to develop your expertise in a rewarding and specialist forensic mental health setting?

We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Speech and Language Therapist to join our multidisciplinary team within the Thames Valley Forensic Mental Health service, part of the For Me Provider Collaborative. This is an exciting opportunity to work with adults presenting with complex mental health needs, neurodevelopmental conditions, communication difficulties and dysphagia across a range of secure inpatient services.

Main duties of the job

In this role, you will work across medium and low secure forensic mental health wards in Oxford, Milton Keynes and Aylesbury providing specialist assessment, intervention and consultation for patients with communication and swallowing difficulties. You will support individuals to engage in their care, maximise independence and achieve their recovery goals. You will work collaboratively with patients, carers and colleagues across a variety of professional disciplines, contributing your specialist expertise to inform care planning and risk management.

The successful candidate will be a confident and autonomous practitioner with excellent clinical and interpersonal skills. You will have opportunities to contribute to service development, staff training, quality improvement initiatives and the continued development of speech and language therapy within forensic mental health inpatient services.

We offer a supportive and innovative working environment, regular clinical supervision, opportunities for leadership and service development, and access to continued professional development.

If you are passionate about reducing communication barriers, promoting patient voice and delivering high-quality, person-centred care within a specialist forensic setting, we would love to hear from you.

About us

Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the "candidate guide to making an application" and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.

As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: "Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"

Our values are: "Caring, safe and excellent"

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

o Opportunities for career progressiono Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and developmento 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous serviceo NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailerso Competitive pension schemeo Lease car schemeo Cycle to work schemeo Employee Assistance Programmeo Mental Health First Aiderso Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

Job responsibilities

Please see the job description for full details of the role, including education, knowledge and skills requirements.

We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.

The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview, and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their application. We kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of their experience and must take care to ensure the use of AI tools does not generate an application that does not accurately reflect their knowledge, skills and values.

Person specification

Education

Essential

• BSc/MSc Speech and Language Therapy
• HCPC registration
• Evidence of ongoing CPD

Desirable

• Leadership training/qualification
• Training specific to working with forensic populations
• Training in use of specialist assessments/interventions

Skills

Essential

• Specialist assessment and management of communication disorders
• Assessment and management of dysphagia
• MDT working
• Use of IT equipment and systems

Desirable

• Leadership
• Quality improvement

Experience

Essential

• Working with people with mental health problems and/or severe mental illness
• Working as part of an MDT

Desirable

• Working in a forensic setting
• Working autonomously